Saturday, December 24, 2011

The Birth of Jesus

Matthew 1:18-25

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (KJV)

Luke 2:1-14

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (KJV)

The Visit of the Shepherds

Luke 2:15-20

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (KJV)

The Visit of the Magi (Wise Men)

Matthew 2:1-12

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.' "

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. (KJV)

Peace on Earth

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (KJV)

Peace with God

Romans 5:1

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (KJV)

Saturday, December 3, 2011

11 Jesus
continued, "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger son spoke to
his father. He said, 'Father, give me my share of the family property.' So the
father divided his property between his two sons.

13 "Not
long after that, the younger son packed up all he had. Then he left for a
country far away. There he wasted his money on wild living. 14 He spent
everything he had.

"Then
the whole country ran low on food. So the son didn't have what he needed. 15 He
went to work for someone who lived in that country, who sent him to the fields
to feed the pigs. 16 The son wanted to fill his stomach with the food the pigs
were eating. But no one gave him anything.

17 "Then
he began to think clearly again. He said, 'How many of my father's hired workers
have more than enough food! But here I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up
and go back to my father. I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned
against heaven. And I have sinned against you. 19 I am no longer fit to be
called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers." ' 20 So he got
up and went to his father.

"While
the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender
love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 "The
son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no
longer fit to be called your son.'

22 "But
the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him.
Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattest calf and
kill it. Let's have a big dinner and celebrate. 24 This son of mine was dead.
And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.'

"So they
began to celebrate.

25 "The
older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and
dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants. He asked him what was going on.

27 " 'Your
brother has come home,' the servant replied. 'Your father has killed the
fattest calf. He has done this because your brother is back safe and sound.'

28 "The
older brother became angry. He refused to go in. So his father went out and
begged him.

29 "But he
answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've worked like a slave for you. I
have always obeyed your orders. You never gave me even a young goat so I could
celebrate with my friends. 30 But this son of yours wasted your money with some
prostitutes. Now he comes home. And for him you kill the fattest calf!'

31 " 'My
son,' the father said, 'you are always with me. Everything I have is yours. 32
But we had to celebrate and be glad. This brother of yours was dead. And now he
is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.' "

Mario Benedetti (1920-2009) is regarded as one of Latin America's most important twentieth-century writers and one of Uruguay's most revered writers of novels, short stories, poetry, plays, and essays.

Monday, October 10, 2011

It was
1934. A young farmer fell in love with a young girl in a hamlet in the south of Guatemala. His name was Transito Garcia, her name was Natalia Aguirre. He would go to the river to try to talk to her while she washed clothes but she would run away when he approached her. Finally, he convinced her to talk with him. A few months later the young farmer's father went to ask her dad for her hand. They were married a year later. They began a
simple life working the land and starting a family. He planted corn, beans, rice, peanuts, and tomatoes. She
stayed home. At one point she had 80 hens to feed and 12 children to raise. With few resources but with a lot of love they raised their children until they moved to Guatemala City. One of their daughters is my mom. They are my abuelitos (grandparents).

My abuelitos are my
inspiration. My grandpa went to heaven 2 years ago. He is still with us in the heart of his children, grandchildren and great-granchildren. Don Tancho y Dona Nati were together for 75 years. Their faith in God, sense of humor and optimism taught me so much growing up in Guatemala. I am so proud of them. I am thankful for their life and their example. Because of them I learned that happiness comes from loving and living a simple life.

Friday, September 23, 2011

“I wish I could describe the feeling of being at sea, the anguish,
frustration, and fear. The beauty that accompanies threatening spectacles. The
spiritual communion with creatures in whose domain I sail. There is a
magnificent intensity in life that comes when we are not in control but are
only reacting, living, surviving. I am not a religious man per se. My own
cosmology is convoluted and not in line with any particular church or
philosphy. But for me, to go to sea is to glimpse the face of God. At sea I am
reminded of my insignificance -- of all men's insignificance. It is a wonderful
feeling to be so humbled.”